In My True Element

Chapter 7

We've gone over every little detail regarding our first mission, as everyone keeps calling it. The trip to Croatia will take us nine hours. Once on land, we'll move the necessary equipment, such as cameras, mikes, recording devices, provisions and the like on a truck and drive straight for the national park. There we'll start hiking and hope for quick results. If not, five rooms in a nearby hotel have already been booked for us and the six soldiers that have been assigned to us to make sure that everything goes smoothly.

Brackwick has thought of everything, even some clothing for me. Surmising that I won't get far in my dirty, torn, black pants and a black shirt that has seen better days, he's provided me with a pair of army boots, hiking pants, a couple of long sleeve shirts and a wind jacket.

I look at my nicely packed backpack, counting the seconds until I'll be able to leave. Not a second too soon it happens. Brackwick dismisses everyone, reminding us that in only four hours we'll have to be on the plane, ready for our overnight journey.

I wish I could see my brothers and sister once again, but I'm denied this opportunity. So, grudgingly, I sit in my cell, waiting for the moment when I'll have to find the past I hid over three hundred years ago.

We've arrived at a small private airport, and now I walk around the big bird we'll fly over the Atlantic. The fact that Brackwick has a personal jet at his disposal doesn't surprise me much. It looks like this man has everything he needs... well, except for the jewel. I touch my talisman, hoping that I'll be able to find a way to keep Brackwick's fat paws away from it.

"Watch where you're going." One of Brackwick's faceless soldiers pushes me to the side and walks past me with some bags. All six men look like identical twins. They're at least six point five feet tall, all of them have broad shoulders, overly muscular arms and barely detectable necks. In addition to that all of them wear the same expression when they are looking at me, as if they want to step on me and squash me like an insect. Their animosity is puzzling. It's not like I had a chance to piss them off. Not yet anyways.

As the last call is made and we are ready to take off, Ilana disappears inside the jet, leaving me to the farewell instructions.

"Now, don't forget what, or should I rather say who, is at stake." Of course Brackwick is talking about my family. I want to tell him that his reminder is unnecessary but decide against it. I nod and want to climb the stairs but Brat's grip on my upper arm stops me. I turn around and look down at him.

"A friendly reminder: I have eyes and ears everywhere. If you touch her, I'll kill you."

"Screw you." I jerk my hand free and without another word get into the plane.

All six soldiers and Ilana are already sitting in their seats. I take one of the two empty seats across the aisle from her.

"Are you ready to have some fun?" I wink at Ilana, but she haughtily turns her nose away from me. "C'mon, don't pretend you have nothing to say back. You used to have a very sharp tongue."

Nothing, not a word in response.

"You got so booooring." I shake my head in a criticizing manner and I lean forward, "a word of advice, you need to loosen up, you're too tense. Want some massage? I was told my hands are magical."

"What's your game here?" she suddenly looks up at me, her piercing eyes drilling deep into mine.

"No game." I raise my hands in a defensive manner. "Just thought I'd be friendly, maybe help you out a bit in the process. You know, just wanted to be my usual nice self."